The Mirror has called on the Government to reverse a decade of cuts by the Conservative party to enable people to access an NHS dentist again. Currently, the £3 billion allocated for dentistry in England is only sufficient for half of the population to receive NHS dental care when needed. A campaign named Dentists for All, in collaboration with the British Dental Association (BDA), has launched a petition urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to adequately fund dental care to address the escalating oral health crisis.
Statistics reveal that a quarter of adults in England, equivalent to 14 million individuals, have unmet dental needs. Compared to other UK regions, the Westminster government allocates nearly half less per capita to dental services. The BDA and the Mirror are starting an online petition demanding the Government reverse the cuts and prevent individuals from resorting to self-extraction of teeth.
Eddie Crouch, the BDA chair, emphasized the critical state of NHS dentistry, urging the Government to back up its commitments with financial support. Efforts are underway to revamp the flawed NHS dental payment contract, which currently results in dentists facing financial losses when treating patients requiring significant care.
Despite stagnant funding levels of around £3 billion since 2010, the real value of the budget has decreased by over a third due to inflation. The Government’s direct contribution to the dental budget in England stands at approximately £2.2 billion, with a notable increase in patient charges over the years. Labour has pledged to allocate more NHS budget towards primary care, but no specific increase has been earmarked for dentistry.
The Government’s plans for reforming the NHS dental contract and enhancing services are underway, including initiatives like supervised tooth brushing for young children in deprived communities. However, the success of these reforms in improving access to NHS dental care hinges on a comprehensive funding settlement.
NHS dentistry is an essential aspect of healthcare, and the public is encouraged to support the petition for better funding to ensure universal access to dental services.